Welcome to 2020!
For my first post of the year, I want to spotlight a blog post from December about a recent webinar hosted by Network for Good in which attendees were asked about their most common board struggles.
The 4 “winners” were:
Board members are not involved enough in their organization (41% of respondents)
Board members do not fundraise for or donate to their organization (28%)
Board members are averse to change (17%)
There is confusion among board members about their roles and responsibilities (14%)
I wish I could say that I am surprised about this, but I hear the same complaints all the time. Encouraging board engagement and participation is definitely challenging, and so is moving boards away from the “this is how we’ve always done it” mindset. But it’s not impossible.
From the above list of problems, dealing with #4 is key to shifting the dynamic identified in #1 and #2. Clarity around what is expected of board members from the beginning is essential in creating a board culture that connects board members to the mission and programs of the organization, and maximizes their fundraising and donation potential.
As for #3, engaging the board in some “big picture” strategic visioning can help move them into embracing innovation and change.
These are all important and often deeply-rooted problems, and I don’t want to make it seem like they are easy to fix. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. I can help you tackle these and many other issues that might be holding your organization back in its growth and success. I’m looking forward to working with you in 2020!